Treading the mill

Even some of my die hard running friends are hitting the treadmill these days. Sadly, I am starting to get used to the treadmill, boring as it is! It is best when several friends are at the gym, almost like running outside with my running buds. And I really have come to appreciate speed work on the treadmill once a week. I can set my speed, watch my time and see my progress – almost like a game, a sweaty, painful game.

I envy people who can watch movies to while away the time on the dreaded ‘mill. I have a short attention span in the best of situations, even watching a movie in a movie theatre is a challenge, so trying to watch one while on a treadmill is no help! And the news that is on in the gym in the morning is more boring and repetitive than the treadmill itself…”Weather on the 1s“ Like I want to hear “wind chill”, “precipitation”, “messy commute” and “overnight accumulations”every TEN minutes! UGH! I have also tried downloading books but my mind wanders and I end up having no idea what is going on, again, thanks to my short attention span.

Last week I downloaded a few episodes of Southlandto my Iphone. I have heard a lot of people talking about it and hadn’t had a chance to catch it yet. I watch very little TV at home – who has time?! So I decided to give it a shot and started watching an episode on the treadmill this weekend. I don’t know if the show is that good or it’s the fact the show is fast paced or even maybe because, rather than watching a movie with outside interruptions, having the earbuds in and tiny screen really make me pay attention -but it does seem to pass the time!

Spring is less than a month away, days are getting longer, we went 12 whole days without snow and it just has to start getting warmer but in the meantime I have three seasons ofSouthland to get through.

What are your treadmill tricks? Do you bargain with yourself? Watch movies? Read? (that would be dangerous for me, clumsy AND a short attention span!) or do you defy the weather and run outside no matter what?

18 Responses

Fortunately I was able to get out quite a bit this winter, although not as much as last year.

I have a treadmill in the basement that I use only in winter and I have a DVD player set up along with my MP3. Both provide distractions that allow me to do what I need to get done that day.

One trick that seems to work for me is to picture some of the most boring races that I have been involved with. I won’t give actual race events, but these races involve either long stretches of flat pavement, trail running (hate it), or bike path running (yuck). Most of the time I can distract myself into thinking I am at that race and need to finish it. After a while, the monotony of the treadmill lessens and I can concentrate on the run, and finishing it.

I use one sometimes during the winter, usually at the gym at Siena College ( I can’t bring myself to run on that “concrete” track above the gym). The past week I have been using one pretty much every day because I’m house sitting, and it’s there. I don’t use anything. No headphones, no tv, nothing. I let the mental pain and physical pain kind of fill my head, and consider myself stronger for it. I use it as a lesson to show me that If i can handle that boredom and mental anguish, then I can gut it out for whatever race I plan for the spring regardless of how painful it is during the run.

I have found myself really needing that mental fortitude this year. I’m fine with snow and sleet and 2 degree temperatures. I am not fine with ice, which we have seemed to have a lot of this year. Ice is my kryptonite (I’m not very graceful), so the mental edge I gain from the treadmill will help me to race strong even if I’m not in the best of shape this spring.

Try downloading a podcast to your mp3. I save a 2 hour radio talk show out of Charlotte, NC and listen to that on the treadmill. It’s nice because it’s entertaining, funny, and makes you think a little, but nothing too distracting. Time goes by quickly. You can download the show here: http://bobandsheri.com/a/listen/index.cfm

The timing aspect of treadmills is what helps me through… I bargain with myself. 6.0 mph for 5 minutes, then 7.5 mph for 3, then 8.5 or 9 for 2, then walk for 2 for a breather, then start all over again. A few of those and I’m already 40 minutes in and it’s done before I know it. Breaking it up really helps.

I have to have my ipod loaded with motivating music or running is dreadful! I crank up the Black Eyed Peas, Pink or Gwen Steffani and away I go…music is the distraction that see’s me through. And I love being able to see my distance, calories burned etc as well. I might be a lowly treadmill runner but at least I ain’t just asittin’ on the couch bein’ a potato! :0)

@lola – Ill check it out
@Cate – treadmill runners amaze me
@mike – yah – ice has been bad this year. Think that is how I hurt my hip
@greg – I hate trail running too! I did Ragnar last year and I ended up getting the only trail running – with a scramble start!
@John – No falling off allowed!

I’ve done 10 & 15 mile runs at most on the treadmill, and like the passing of a close aunt, the memory just doesn’t go away.

Funny, about the short attention span! My problem is that I get so bored that I just keep pressing the up arrow to get the workout over with. Ever been injured on a treadmill? Yup, 7 months ago. Still hurts.

Look, nothing beats the Treadmill for getting your form right. I’ve done 10 outside, then 10 miles inside so that I can keep an eye on form – what an important thing for me.

The HMRRC winter series and marathon forced me to put on 102 miles outside – most of which I would have done inside, or waited for better weather.

@3 I can relate – nothing is one of my favorite distractions.. just self reflection as I bob up and down in the black tv screen. Often use my ipod for my hard core Christian music.. like I’m a christian soldier of sorts. Unlike running, Christianity is easier on the treadmill than off – go figure.

Plenty of Treadmill use makes it harder for me to run outside, then when I’m outside for the 3 seasons, I struggle on the Treadmill, I don’t get it. They say you are supposed to put the Treadmill about 15 secs per mile faster at 1% incline to simulate outside – nope, won’t do it.

I hate just running on the dreadmill. Walking, no problem. Different programs, incline work, speed drills, okey dokey. But to just get on and run about kills me. The problem is that my treadmill work makes me faster outside. Probably because my mill needs to be adjusted (it goes faster than it says it is) so its hard to complain when I see the difference once I get back outside. I too cannot be distracted by the TV or a movie, but if I have to pay attention to the time to change an aspect of my workout (speed or incline), the time seems to fly by.

I’ve been stuck using the treadmill a lot lately, and I really can’t stand it. My form begins to change and it has been giving me terrible shin splints that don’t exist when I run outside. Unfortunately, while I don’t mind the cold, I don’t like running outside after dark, too many people not paying attention to what’s going on (talking/texting while driving, higging the shoulder, etc).

Like Ken, I find myself cranking up the speed to try and get it over faster. Last night I did the final mile of my 4 mile at a 6 minute pace (which is way too fast for me) just because I was sick of it.

Nothing beats running outside, last Friday was a joy, today… not so much. But spring will be here soon.

@Cate… I love the treadmill too. I think it challenges me more than running outside. When I used to run at the gym I would be watching tv on CC and listening to my ipod with a running playlist, and a towel over the distance screen. I’ve run the longest this way. I make sure I have plenty of music with a good beat, and I usually can get through it ok. I ended my gym membership a while ago and want to buy a treadmill to get running again. Does anyone have any suggestions, or maybe a blog post on different treadmills? I was looking at smooth fitness, and sole treadmills, because of their price and the fact their reviews seem decent. I dont need anything fancy…

I also get tremendously bored while running on the treadmill, but when I found myself spending more and more time on the machine this winter, I started watching movies on a laptop or my phone. The miles and time seemed to fly by! Now that it’s getting warmer, I’m wondering if checking out my neighbors’ houses and appreciating nature will be able to compete with the excitement of an action movie!

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